The National Gulf War Resource Center is made up of Veterans and non-Veterans who want to get to the bottom of Gulf War Illness. We have seen many of our Veterans become very ill, to the point that they will do anything for help. We know that there were over 29 toxic chemicals in the Gulf, and that any combination of them could be at the root of our problems. We do not blame anyone for what is wrong, we blame some for not doing more to find a treatment that will work. Many Veterans have said time and again that they would give back all of the money they have received from the VA if only they could just be normal again.

2010 Legislative Issues of National Gulf War Resource Center

Dear Chairman Filner and Members of the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs,
The National Gulf War Resource Center (NGWRC) appreciates the opportunity to submit a written statement for the record regarding our priorities for the second session of the 111th Congress.
The NGWRC is a non-profit organization based in Topeka, Kansas, focusing on issues related to Gulf War illnesses. We have testified regularly before the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee since 1995, when we were first formed in Washington, DC.
The NGWRC leads the battle in identifying problems facing Gulf War veterans and their families and finding practical solutions. Using the Freedom of Information Act, NGWRC forced the Department of Defense to confirm hundreds of thousands of our fellow veterans who were exposed to toxins during Desert Shield / Desert Storm, including oil well fire pollution, depleted uranium, chemical warfare agents, anthrax vaccines, pyridostigmine bromide pills, pesticides, and others.
NGWRC also led the legislative efforts to fund medical research at the Department of Veterans Affairs, to provide service-connected disability benefits for undiagnosed illnesses, and the creation of VA’s Research Advisory Committee on Gulf War Illnesses.
Our statement for the record is limited to our top four best ways Congress can assist our Nation’s 700,000 Desert Storm veterans from 1991 and those who entered Southwest Asia since 1991.
The NGWRC asks the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee to work closely with the House Armed Services Committee and the House Appropriations Committee to budget and then appropriate $30,000,000 for the purpose of funding treatments for the estimated 200,000 Gulf War veterans suffering from chronic multi-symptom illnesses.
We would like $10,000,000 of the funding to go to Dr. Haley’s research being done in Texas. The Congress approved $75,000,000 for his research at UTSWMC over a five year time frame. With the VA now redirecting the funding to different studies, the last of Dr Haley’s studies needing to be completed, this money is needed now. To see the importance of the finding, we also ask that you do a joint hearing to hear from Dr. Haley on what his research has found and how it will help the veterans.

Purpose

Veterans who care about veterans run the National Gulf War Resource Center. What makes us different than some of the larger, more well funded organizations is our flexibility and commitment to speaking out about all issues in the interest of today’s veterans. With ongoing conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan, our board of directors holds monthly meetings and is able to respond swiftly to breaking news, research, and legal developments. With an adaptable organizational structure, and a dedicated staff and board, the NGWRC accomplished more on our small budget than many of the largest veterans’ advocacy organizations with far greater resources.

Colonel Gingrich came to the RAC meeting to update everyone on what the VA is doing.

This is the recording of the meeting.